520 years ago, Columbus stepped foot on the Americas- a historic landing greater than that of Neil Armstrong’s. Â Countries all over the world celebrate this discovery with everything from candy to parades. Â Here are some fun facts about Columbus day:
1) It occurs on the same day as Canadian Thanksgiving, the victory of Yorktown, Puerto Rico Friendship Day, Discoverer’s Day (referring to the Polynesian discovery of Hawaii, not Columbus), and Native American Day.
2) All of the above are celebrated in the Americas only, and refer to American places and origins.
3) Columbus Day is the national holiday of Puerto Rico.
4) San Francisco has celebrated Columbus Day every year with a parade since 1868.
Although Columbus Day is only unofficially celebrated, it is a great way both to pay tribute to the fearless explorers who were willing to fall off the edge of the Earth AND for children to pester parents for candy, as practiced in many central American countries.
Happy Columbus Day!
